'Oh he speaks German?! That's lovely. I learned a bit of German at school but don't really remember any now. But kids really are like sponges, aren't they? They pick up languages so easily....'
'Yeah, well.... '
Have you had this type of conversion about your child learning a second language? How would you finish the last sentence? Is it really THAT easy for our children to learn a language to a level at which they are fluent (= native speakers)?
'Yeah, well.... '
Have you had this type of conversion about your child learning a second language? How would you finish the last sentence? Is it really THAT easy for our children to learn a language to a level at which they are fluent (= native speakers)?
I feel the statement about kids being sponges neglects the effort that we all put in to help our children progress in the target language. The occasional frustrations when there seems to be only slow or no progress. The investment of both time and money in travel, books, lessons, music CDs, games etc. to develop the language and make it part of our children's lives.
I am sure everyone who uses the 'Kids are like sponges' statement only means well, implying that children learn things fast. And that's true. They do learn fast - IF they receive appropriate and meaningful input AND have opportunities to USE what they learn.
A unused sponge is pretty dry and in order to use it we have to submerge it in water. When we use the sponge the water inside gradually disappears and we have to keep submerging it in water to keep it wet.
The same principle applies to our children and how they learn a language. We, as parents and educators, have to give them something to soak up. e.g. we talk, we show, we play with our children - in the target language - over a long period of time.
So while we can all see on a daily basis how our children soak up lots of information and knowledge, once we've turned on the language tap, we have to keep it running consistently!
Here's what you can do:
Your child most likely learns the target language by topic. We can create a variety of activities for just one topic at different language levels to enable our children to revise and practise that topic while learning and improving many aspects of the language.
Example: Modes of Transport
1. Introduce the types of transport with a Kim's Game or a picture book.
2. Revise the vocabulary with a game of Memory.
3. Add pronouns and action words (to drive - fahren, to fly - fliegen, to cycle - Rad fahren) and play a game of musical statue.
4. Add adjectives, adverbs, numbers and technical knowledge about cars, planes or ships with a game of Trump Cards (speed - Geschwindigkeit, weight - Gewicht, flight altitude - Flughöhe).
5. Let the children create a pocket book (or video presentation for older children; all you need is PowerPoint) about their favourite car, plane or ship.
6. Look at an atlas together and find destinations where your child would like to go to. Talk about how to get there from where you live and learn about geography and time zones.
Through such activities you continuously support your child's language development while having a good time together.
Keep the tap running!
I am sure everyone who uses the 'Kids are like sponges' statement only means well, implying that children learn things fast. And that's true. They do learn fast - IF they receive appropriate and meaningful input AND have opportunities to USE what they learn.
A unused sponge is pretty dry and in order to use it we have to submerge it in water. When we use the sponge the water inside gradually disappears and we have to keep submerging it in water to keep it wet.
The same principle applies to our children and how they learn a language. We, as parents and educators, have to give them something to soak up. e.g. we talk, we show, we play with our children - in the target language - over a long period of time.
So while we can all see on a daily basis how our children soak up lots of information and knowledge, once we've turned on the language tap, we have to keep it running consistently!
Here's what you can do:
Your child most likely learns the target language by topic. We can create a variety of activities for just one topic at different language levels to enable our children to revise and practise that topic while learning and improving many aspects of the language.
Example: Modes of Transport
1. Introduce the types of transport with a Kim's Game or a picture book.
2. Revise the vocabulary with a game of Memory.
3. Add pronouns and action words (to drive - fahren, to fly - fliegen, to cycle - Rad fahren) and play a game of musical statue.
4. Add adjectives, adverbs, numbers and technical knowledge about cars, planes or ships with a game of Trump Cards (speed - Geschwindigkeit, weight - Gewicht, flight altitude - Flughöhe).
5. Let the children create a pocket book (or video presentation for older children; all you need is PowerPoint) about their favourite car, plane or ship.
6. Look at an atlas together and find destinations where your child would like to go to. Talk about how to get there from where you live and learn about geography and time zones.
Through such activities you continuously support your child's language development while having a good time together.
Keep the tap running!
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